Saturday, October 25, 2008

The Hottest Starters!

Living Rosters - You'll never be late on a trade again. Constant updates from the NBA 2K Insider guaranteee you're playing with the most current roster and the hottest starters.

Rather than scoff over the use of the word "Constant" or guarantees over the most current roster minus 40 players we're too lazy to add, I figured I'd focus on the latter portion of this advertisement.

Let's look at the latest update brought to you by the 2K Insider.


SIXERS: Miller, Iguodala, Young, Brand, Dalembert
ACTUAL: Miller, Iguodala, Young, Brand, Dalembert

That's one.

BLAZERS: Bayless, Roy, Outlaw, Aldridge, Oden
ACTUAL: Blake, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden

Blake has started every preseason game he's played and was the starter last year. Bayless has started 3 times in 7 games, and one of those starts was at SG. Batum is going to start in Webster's absence as they want Fernandez, Outlaw, etc to retain their consistent bench roles.

BOBCATS: Felton, Richardson, Morrison, Wallace, Okafor
ACTUAL: Felton, Richardson, Wallace, May, Okafor

Adam Morrison starting? You've got to be ****ing me. He didn't even start before he tore his ACL. He has yet to start this preseason. Sean May has started every game this preseason. In case you were wondering, Morrison has 30 rotation minutes set, and May 0.

BUCKS: Ridnour, Redd, Jefferson, Villanueva, Bogut
ACTUAL: Ridnour, Redd, Jefferson, Villanueva, Bogut

That's two.

BULLS: Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Thomas, Gooden
ACTUAL: Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Thomas, Gooden

I'm a little surprised they have this one. That's three.

Michael Ruffin wasn't added, so injured Larry Hughes is still on the active roster.

CAVALIERS: Williams, Szczerbiak, James, Wallace, Ilgauskas
ACTUAL: Williams, West/Pavlovic, James, Wallace, Ilgauskas

The Cavs SG spot is still up for grabs, but it's been made pretty clear that Wally ain't in the running. Pavlovic has started 4 of 5 games while West has started twice but has impressed in each.

Dwayne Jones is still on the team for who knows what reason.

CELTICS: Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, Perkins
ACTUAL: Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, Perkins

Not exactly a toughie.

CLIPPERS: B. Davis, R. Davis, Thornton, Camby, Kaman
ACTUAL: B. Davis, Mobley, Thornton, Camby, Kaman

Baron/Camby have been hurt this preseason but should be back for the regular season. Hart started in place of Baron and Skinner/Paul Davis in place of Camby. Ricky however has been healthy and has come off the bench behind tenured starter Mobley, something that won't change in the regular season..

GRIZZLIES: Conley, Mayo, Gay, Warrick, Milicic
ACTUAL: Conley, Mayo, Gay, Gasol, Milicic

I have to think common sense will prevail and Warrick will eventually start over one of these stiffs, however as it stands Darko/Gasol have started every game this preseason.

HAWKS: Bibby, Johnson, Williams, Smith, Horford
ACTUAL: Bibby, Johnson, Williams, Smith, Horford

Another easy one. That' five. Good to see Jeremy Richardson is on the Hawks even though he made Orlando yesterday.

HEAT: Quinn, Wade, Marion, Haslem, Blount
ACTUAL: Chalmers, Wade, Marion, Beasley, Haslem

Haslem is expected to start at C over Blount to get Beasley in the lineup. Chalmers is expected to start to get Quinn out of the lineup.

Can anyone tell me why the unsigned Zo is still on this team? Oh right, because they're too lazy to add the player who actually fills his roster spot.

HORNETS: Paul, Peterson, Stojakovic, West, Chandler
ACTUAL: Paul, Peterson, Stojakovic, West, Chandler

I'm half surprised they don't have the 84 overall Posey starting over Peterson (75) or Peja (80).

JAZZ: Williams, Brewer, Kirilenko, Boozer, Okur
ACTUAL: Williams, Brewer, Miles, Boozer, Okur

Miles has started every game over Kirilenko this preseason (AK47's one start came at PF with Booze out). Kirilenko is the 6th man this year.

KINGS: Udrih, Martin, Salmons, Moore, Miller
ACTUAL: Udrih, Martin, Salmons, Moore, Miller

This is one to keep an eye on. Hawes has outplayed Miller in the preseason and the job will be his to start the season thanks to Miller's drug suspension. He may keep it throughout the year.

KNICKS: Duhon, Crawford, Richardson, Lee, Randolph
ACTUAL: Duhon, Crawford, Richardson, Lee, Randolph

Marbury is the sixth man on this team. Why the hell is he still inactive over Jerome James who hasn't even played this preseason (or the previous season)? Gallinari has yet to play this preseason yet he has 20 rotation minutes to Wilson Chandler's zero.

LAKERS: Fisher, Bryant, Radmanovic, Gasol, Bynum
ACTUAL: Fisher, Bryant, Radmanovic, Gasol, Bynum

That's 9.

MAGIC: Nelson, Bogans, Turkoglu, Lewis, Howard
ACTUAL: Nelson, Pietrus, Turkoglu, Lewis, Howard

Pietrus has started every game over Bogans.

MAVERICKS: Kidd, Terry, Howard, Nowitzki, Dampier
ACTUAL: Kidd, Wright, Howard, Nowitzki, Dampier

Wright has started 6 of 8 games this preseason. Terry started 1 of 7. He is the primary backup at both guard spots, very necessary for PG since the only thing behind Kidd otherwise is JJ Barea.

NETS: Harris, Carter, Yi, Williams, Lopez
ACTUAL: Harris, Carter, Simmons, Yi, Lopez

I still have no idea where 2k gets the idea Yi is a SF. Simmons started every game there this preseason and the job was his the moment he was acquired.

NUGGETS: Carter, Iverson, Anthony, Martin, Nene
ACTUAL: Carter, Iverson, Anthony, Martin, Nene

That's 10.

PACERS: Ford, Dunleavy, Granger, Murphy, Nesterovic
ACTUAL: Ford, Dunleavy, Granger, Murphy, Nesterovic

Any starts Dunleavy misses with his balky knee will go to Marquis Daniels.

PISTONS: Billups, Hamilton, Prince, McDyess, Wallace
ACTUAL: Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Johnson, Wallace

Seriously? Amir Johnson was announced as the starting PF two weeks ago. Amir started every game this preseason. McDyess? 1 of 8.

RAPTORS: Calderon, Parker, Moon, Bosh, O'Neal
ACTUAL: Calderon, Parker, Moon, Bosh, O'Neal

I'm half surprised Moon survived between updates.

ROCKETS: Alston, McGrady, Artest, Scola, Yao
ACTUAL: Alston, McGrady, Artest, Scola, Yao

It is literally a crapshoot who starts if McGrady isn't ready to go, my guess is they go with Head.

SPURS: Parker, Finley, Bowen, Duncan, Oberto
ACTUAL: Parker, Finley, Bowen, Duncan, Thomas

Oberto started 2 of 5 games, Thomas 3 of 4. They will most likely alternate depending on the matchup.

SUNS: Nash, Bell, Hill, Stoudemire, O'Neal
ACTUAL: Nash, Bell, Barnes, Stoudemire, O'Neal

It's not like we heard all summer Hill was going to have a bench role.

THUNDER: Westbrook, Durant, Green, Wilcox, Petro
ACTUAL: Watson, Durant, Green, Wilcox, Petro


Interesting note: Thunder.com is 5 games behind on it's preseason stats. I think we just identified the 2K Insider!


WOLVES: Foye, Miller, Brewer, Love, Jefferson
ACTUAL: Foye, Miller, Brewer, Gomes, Jefferson

Love started 1 of 8 games this preseason. By comparison, Mark Madsen started 5 of 8 games.

Note to Insider - Kevin Ollie made the team, not David Harrison.

WARRIORS: Watson, Jackson, Maggette, Harrington, Biedrins
ACTUAL: Nelson, Jackson, Maggette, Harrington, Biedrins

Watson started all of one game this preseason before getting injured. Nelson has started three. But I guess it's tough to make a player you didn't even add to the rosters a starter.

Word is Stephen Jackson could start at PG with Azubuike at SG but I'll believe it when I see it (Azubuike has yet to start this preseason).

WIZARDS: Daniels, Stevenson, Butler, Jamison, Thomas
ACTUAL: Daniels, Stevenson, Butler, Jamison, Thomas

That makes 14 of 30 teams with accurate starting lineups. You know what, I'm a good sport, I'll give him the Spurs so he's got 15.

Living Rosters - You'll be late on a couple trades here and there. Bi-monthly updates from the NBA 2K Insider guaranteee you're playing with the most current roster minus any players we are too lazy to add, and the hottest starters for only half the team's in the NBA.

Somehow, I don't think this would sell many games if it were on the back of the box.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that is actually pretty sad... I think it will be a little bit better once we get a little deeper into the season.

When is that PS3 gonna arrive Rashidi? :P

Anonymous said...

the only thing i noticed you were wrong on was that they didd have chalmers starting when i played the heat. That might have been due to injury but i don;t know

Anonymous said...

haha.. this is hilarious. Why doesn't Rashidi give it directly to the insider?

Anonymous said...

You're trying a little too hard... knocking the Insider (who I agree sucks) for having the "wrong lineups" and using the preseason lineups as your argument?

Anonymous said...

any news on if your getting a PS3, i need your rosters

Anonymous said...

"Ricky however has been healthy and has come off the bench behind tenured starter Mobley, something that won't change in the regular season.."
I disagree. Dunleavy likes to play with his lineups and Ricky D has been outplaying Mobley so far. Look for Mobley to start the season, but I'm not sure how long it's going to last since Mobley has somewhat slipped off for some reason.

Anonymous said...

just wanted to stop by and say that i LOVE YOUR WORK!

dont stop bringing that good stuff!

Anonymous said...

The season isn't here, I think you're getting a little too ahead of yourself. Also, I don't know what makes you think Chalmers has gained the starting PG role. He did start the last two games, but that's it. Quinn has been dealing with a little injury and is expected to be starting for the Heat. Before the preseason it was Banks who had been expected to start. Chalmers is just a rookie for now, and there has been no evidence that he will start the season in the lineup.

Anonymous said...

^ACTUALLY, Chalmers practiced w/ the first team today and Quinn practiced w/ the second team. Spo is said to already have his lineup said, he just hasn't revealed it. Chalmers is expected to be the starter.

Anonymous said...

Hi there rashidi, hope we, NBA 2k9 PC users could also use your rosters and sliders/coaching sliders so we can also enjoy your great work. I have heard many positive feedbacks from your work. and yeah, you are the real 2k insider